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Pagan Monasticism Links

Posted by on Mar 17, 2011 in Otherhood | 3 Comments

While paganism, or neopaganism, isn’t necessarily secular or interfaith (the word “pagan” can denote a wide range of groups, from the decidedly polytheistic, pantheistic, animistic, or magickal, to the merely “not Judeo-Christian”) it would appear that pagans are up to some interesting monastic stuff:

I hope we can share notes.

 

3 Comments

  1. Integral Monastery
    March 17, 2011

    Very interesting, thanks. The this-worldliness (gritty, earthy, fleshy) of paganism is one of the very important elements making up a wholesome spiritual practice, in my opinion.

    • Nathan Rosquist
      March 17, 2011

      I agree, IM. I had always viewed paganism as being defined by what it is not—not-christianity, not-religious, not-dogmatic, not-destructive—and I think that’s what draws a lot of people to it. A more useful perspective focuses on what it is, what is unique about it, and I think you’ve hit that nail on the head.

  2. Integral Monastery
    March 17, 2011

    One of the six shared goals of the Integral Monastery is called: “5. Integral Embrace: The integration of, and participation in, the worldly currents of ascending-freedom and descending-communion.” (http://bit.ly/ia8HuW)

    It’s exactly that, ascendency is emptiness and God, the male, the non-personal and non-embodied, the vast freedom; while descendency is what is described in these links: the female, embodied, intertwining … the interpenetrating and the communicating. And what a wonderful gift to not have to choose between one or the other!

    How does descendency or “pagan energies” – whatever one wishes to call it – manifest in your life, Nathan? Cheers!

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